Sometimes a practice or in this case a scrimmage means more than you think. A prime example of that came this week for the Longwood JV Baseball program.
During a junior varsity baseball scrimmage the game was secondary to the meaning behind it. The Longwood team had a tribute to their departed friend and teammate Nolan Horn.
Longwood social media said of the event "Recently, we mourned the loss of one of our beloved students, Nolan Horn, yet his legacy continues to bring our community together."
They continued "Following the scrimmage the Lions JV team and Miller Place gathered at home plate, each player wearing bracelets inscribed with Lov3forNolan and #NolanNation. Two of Nolan’s summer teammates held his jersey as both teams stood in solidarity—honoring his memory, his spirit, and the lasting impact he left on all who knew him."
Nolan Horn passed away at the age of 15 years old after his battle with cancer over the winter. In December 2022 Nolan was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer. According to their Gofundme page he "traveled across the country multiple times for treatment, undergone 3 separate brain surgeries, 2 rounds of radiation, chemotherapy, participated in 2 clinical trials, and has had to endure over a dozen MRIs, hundreds of needle pokes, extensive physical and occupational therapy, and countless doctor’s appointments."
"Despite these hardships, Nolan continues to inspire us all with his resilience, strength, and smile."
That inspiration continues even after his death as his teammates celebrated his life and will never forget the courageous young man.
If you would like to help, they still have their GoFundMe page active: www.gofundme.com/f/the-horn-family-in-their-journey-to-fight-brain-cancer
After his passing Superintendent Lance Lohman took to Facebook and said that "Nolan was a true shining light in our schools and community," he said, adding that his "love for family, friends, baseball, golf, and Longwood" was "evident in everything he did."